Machine for opening closure members having crimped flanges



A. E. ALMGREN MACHINE FOR OPENING CLOSURE MEMBERS HAVING CRIMPED FLANGES Oct. 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 INVENTOR.

E GWMW M E 0 NZ 7 A A w fiW w Oct. 9, 1951 AI. E. ALMGREN 5 x MACHINE FOR OPENING CLOSURE MEMBERS HAVING CRIMPED FLANGES Filed Feb. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z0 0 Hill INVENTOR. AUGUSTE. AL/WGEEN Eli 5 JM ma 1951 A. E. ALMGREN 2,570,186

- MACHINE FOR OPENING CLOSURE MEMBERS HAVING CRIMPED FLANGES Filed Feb. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. A 1/ 05 T 5. ALMGEEA/ v DZRM IQW ATTOENEYS Patented Oct. 9, 1951 MACHINE FOR OPENING CLOSURE MEM- BEES HAVING CRIMPED FLANGES August E. Almgren, Hillside, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 143,026 8 Claims. (01. 226-129) The present invention relates to a machine for opening or loosening closure members or containers and has particular reference to devices for prying loose and lifting closure members the flanges of which are crimped over a projecting ledge of the containers. This is an improvement on the opening devices included in the machine disclosed in United States Patent 2,284,660 issued June 2, 1942 to John M. Hothersall and August E. Almgren on Container Treating Machine.

In the manufacture of fibre containers for milk and certain other liquid products, considerable care is taken to maintain the containers in a sterile condition. Toward this end the completed containers before shipment to the dairy for filling, are sterilized and their closure members closed and sealed to protect the interior of the containers against contamination during shipment and handling. To insure against inadvertent opening of the closure members during shipment and handling of the containers, the protecting lips or flanges of the closure members are crimped under the projecting ledge of the containers.

This crimped lip or fiange causes some difficulty in opening the closure members immediately prior to filling the containers at the dairy.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this diificulty by the provision of devices for prying the lip loose and for lifting the closure members.

An object of the invention is the provision of devices for opening closure members having lips crimped under a ledge of a container, wherein the crimped-under lips of the closure members may be readily loosened or pulled out and utilized in opening the closure members without distortion or damage of the lips so that the lips may be used to subsequently reseal the containers after filling or other treatment.

Another object is the provision of such devices wherein the decrimping or unsealing of the lips and the lifting of the closure members is efiected by mechanical fingers without the use of vacuum cups which are now extensively utilized for such a closure member opening operation.

Another object is the provision of such devices which are adapted to automatic high-speed machines through which the containers may pass in a continuous procession.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying'drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a container opening mechanism embodying the present invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary details showing the steps of opening a container; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the container opening fingers used in the mech- .anism.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate principal parts of a container treating machine of the character disclosed in the above mentioned Hothersall et a1. Patent 2,284,660 and includes an improved container opening mechanism for reopening sterile closed empty fibre milk. containers A preliminary and as an incident to filling the containers with milk. The container A illustrated in the drawings is similar to that disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979 issued July 6, 1937 to John M. Hothersall on Container. This container comprises a rectangular shaped body B (Fig. 3) having its upper end formed with an inwardly extending tapered bead or neck C terminating in an outwardly projecting flange which envelops a marginal portion of a fiat top member or disc E (Fig. 1) forming with the latter a projecting ledge D.

The top member E is formed, in one corner thereof, with a filling and dispensing opening F (Fig. 1) which is sealed by a friction plug closure member G preferably hingedly secured by a wire staple H to the container top member E. The closure member G is formed with an outer lip or flange J which extends over the ledge D of 'the container along portions of two adjacent and converging sides thereof and which preferably is bent inwardly or crimped under the ledge D during the manufacture of the container to maintain the closure member G in a closed posit-ion during shipment and storage to insure against contamination of the sterile interior of the container.

The closure member G remains in this closed position from the time the container is finished at the factory until immediately prior to the filling of the container at the dairy, at which time the crimped-under lip J is pulled loose and the closure member is hinged open to gain access .to the interior of the container. It is to this pulling loose or unsealing of the crimped-in lip J and the open--.

3 ing of the closure member G that the instant invention is particularly directed.

As disclosed in the above mentioned Hothersall et al. Patent 2,284,660, the containers to be opened are arranged in an upright position supported on a table M (Fig. 1) and are advanced preferably along a curved path of travel in spaced and timed order by an intermittently rotated horizontal turret I? having peripheral pockets I3 in which the containers are located with the corners of the containers adjacent the closure members G extending outwardly as shown in Fig. 1.

The container opening mechanism is located adjacent the curved path of travel of the containers at an opening station K where the containers come to rest during their intermittent advancement. This mechanism includes a curved rack I (Figs. 2 and 3) disposed in a vertical plane and located above and transversely of" the path of travel of the containers A. The sides of the rack l5 are formed with laterally projecting tongues ie which slide in a curved guideway llas shown in the Hothersall et al. Patent 2,284,- 660. This guideway is formed in a bracket L8 secured to a frame 19 which'may be the main frame of the treating machine.

The curved rack i5 is actuated by a spur gear 2| which is keyed to a short shaft 22 carried in a pair of spaced bearings 23 formed in the bracket l8. The shaft 22 also carries a pinion 25 which meshes with a straight actuating rack 26 slideably retained in a groove 2! formed in the bracket I8. The straight rack 26 preferably is connected of the pad. The spring is coiled around the stem 38. t

The outer ends of the two opening fingers 3i are formed-with angularly disposed tail members 15 (Figs. 5 and 9). These tai1 members are yieldably held against the inner ends of a pair of finger actuating pins 56, by compression springs 4'! which press against the inner ends of the fingers. The springs are housed in sockets 48 formed in the head 3t. These springs keep the jaws 35, 36 open.

The finger actuating pins 46 are slideably disposed in bores 5! formed in the head 3d atan angle substantially radial with respect to the curved rack E5. The outer ends of the finger actuating pins 16 operate against a pair of spaced and parallel stationary cam rails 52 which are formed integrally with the bracket 18. These cam rails are curved and aredisposed adjacent and concentric with the path of travel of' the curved rack I5. Compression springs 53 coiled around the finger actuating pins 46 press the pins against the cam rails 52 These springs are interposed between a collar 54 formed on each of the pins and a bushing 55 threaded intothe head 34 for each pin. t

When a container A moves into theopening station K, the curved rack 15 and its attached opening head a l are in a position at the as viewed in Fig. 3 where the head 34 is above and clear of the container so as to prevent inter- A into and out of the opening station K; Through this reciprocating motion the curved rack I5 slides'in its guideways i1 into and out of operat ing position relative to a container'A at rest at the station K to effect the opening ofthe closure stantially so, in order that in' the initial opening position of the fingers they will be in 'vertical planes located substantiallynormal to the sides of the container adjacent its outercorner.

For this purpose the opening fingers 3i intermediate their ends, are mounted on pivot pins 32 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 8) carried in pairs of lugs 33 which project from an opening head 34 prefer ably formed as a lateral extension of the curved ference with the advancement of the container. As soon as the container is at rest at this station, the curved rack is through actuation of the straight rack 26, pinion 25 and gear 2l,-moves toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3 and carries the head E l over the top of the positionedcon tainer and downwardly toward the outer corner of the container tothe position illustrated in Fig. 3. 7

During this travel of the head 34, the outer ends of the finger actuatingpirrs it ride along a high portion '53 of the cam rails 5'2; These high portions of the cams press the pinsinwardly against the tail members 45 of-the fingers-3| and v '1 thus keep the jaws'35 of the'fingers against'the rack 15. The inner ends of the fingers terminate fixed jaws 35. of the head as best shown "in Figi 4. As the head approaches its lowermost -posi-5 tion as shown in Fig. 3; theclamping pad 31 engages against the closuremember 'G' of the container and holds it underthepressure of the pad spring ll; The headcoritinuestolower just a' trifle'and this brings the" head to its initial opening position as. shownin'Figsi 3 and 5. v

As the head moves into its initialropen-ingaposii ticn as mentioned above, the'finger'actuating pins it ride off the high portions 56"0f'thecam'irails 52 as best shcwn' in Fig. rand are theiebyre'e leased or freed so thattheir compression springs 1 53 slide them outwardly; Thisrel'easeszthepresthe closure member G of a container A at the sure on the tail members :35 of the fingers 3i and permit-s the sprin'gsAl to force the g-m-ovable jaws 35 of the fingers awa-y'from the fixed: jaws-361- This forcesthe movable jaws 35 against :the lips or flanges J of theciosuremember C1 asshown in Fig. 4 and causes the outer edges of the mov- .5 able jaws to snap past and engage under the lips or flanges as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

With the movable jaws 35 in this position, engaged under the lips or flanges J, the curved rack I5 starts to move back through a return stroke to its original position. As soon as the rack begins to move, the finger actuating pins 46 ride up onto the high portions 56 of the cam tracks 52 and this action forces the pins inwardly against the tail members 45 of the fingers 3| and thus closes the movable jaws 35. This closing of the movable jaws 35 pries the lips or flanges J outwardly away from their crimped in position under the ledge D of the container and clamps the pried-out lips or flanges against the fixed jaws 36 of the head 34 as best shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that this action bends the lips or flanges outwardly away from the container to an angle of substantially forty-five degrees.

As the rack I5 and its attached head 34 continue to move up through their return stroke, the movable jaws 35 continue to hold the lips or flanges J clamped against the fixed jaws 36 and thus raise the closure member G as shown in Fig. 7. This lifting action continues as the head moves up, until the closure member G is in its fully open position as shown in Fig. 8. When the closure member G is in this fully opened position, the finger actuating pins 46 ride on the high portion 56 of the cam rails 52 and are again released to permit opening of the movable jaws 35 in respect to the fixed jaws 36 and this releases the lips or flanges J from the head 34. The head remains in this position for a subsequent container and thus the released movable fingers 35 remain in position and act as a stop to prevent reclosing of the closure member. This completes the opening operation.

Upon the next advancement of the opened container A by the turret l2, the opened closure member G moves laterally away from the opening fingers 3| and is engaged behind a stationary holding rail 51 (Fig. 1). This rail retains the closure member G in its opened position as the container advances for subsequent treatment.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for opening closure members having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge of a container, the combination of clamping means operable against a top portion of the closure member of a container and having an edge extending substantially to the projecting ledge of the container for holding said member in closed position, and a finger having a jaw insertable under the crimped portion of the closure member and movable away from the container for prying said crimped portion loose from the container to facilitate opening of said closure member, said crimped portion, during said prying operation, being limited by said clamping means to bending outwardly substantially along said edge of the clamping means.

2. In a machine for opening closure members having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge of a container, the combination of a head member movable toward a container to be opened, clamping means carried in said head member and operable against a top portion of the closure member of the container and having an edge extending substantially to the projecting ledge of the container for holding said closure member in closed position, and a finger carried in said head member and insertable under the crimped portion of the closure member and movable away from the container for prying said crimped portion loose from the container to facilitate opening of said closure member, said crimped portion, during said prying operation, being limited by said clamping means to bending outwardly substantially along said edge of the clamping means.

3. In a machine for opening closure members having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge of a container, the combination of a finger having a jaw insertable under the crimped portion of the closure member of a container and movable away from said container for prying said crimped portion loose from the container to facilitate opening of said closure member, a second jaw disposed adjacent said finger jaw, means for closing said jaws with the pried loose crimped portion interposed between them for firmly gripping said crimped portion, and means for shifting said closed jaws for opening said closure member through the grip on said crimped portion.

4. In a machine for opening closure members having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge of a container, the combination of a pair of eo-operating jaws, one of said jaws being engageable under the crimped portion of the closure member of a container for prying said crimped portion loose from the container and for clamping said portion against the other of said jaws, and means for moving said closed jaws and the crimped portion of the closure member clamped therebetween in unison for shifting said closure member into an open position relative to said container.

5. In a machine for opening closure members having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge of a container, the combination of a fixed jaw movable into position adjacent the crimped portion of the closure member of a container, a movable jaw disposed adjacent said fixed jaw. spring means between said jaws for holding them open for engagement of said movable jaw under said crimped portion of the closure member, jaw actuating means operative against said movable jaw for pulling said crimped portion of the closure member loose from said container and for clamping it tightly between said jaws, and means for moving said closed jaws and the crimped portion of the closure member clamped therebetween for shifting said closure member into an open position relative to said container.

6. In a machine for opening closure members having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge of a container, the combination of a head movable along a predetermined path of travel into position adjacent the crimped portion of the 010- sure member of a container, a fixed jaw formed integrally with said head, a movable jaw pivotally mounted in said head adjacent said fixed jaw and engageable under the crimped portion of the closure member on said container, a jaw actuating pin carried in said head and operable 'fa 'giaihst said movable jaw, stationary means" dis- 8. In a machine for opening closure members posed adjacent the path of travel of said head having a portion crimped'over a projecting ledge "a d, engageable with said pin for closing said of a container, the combination of a head mov- "zmo'va'ble jaw for'pulling said crimped portion of able along a'path of travel adjacent the-closure the closure member loose from said container and" 5 member of a container to be opened and intoa :for clamping it tightly between said closed jaws, position adjacent the crimped portion of said and'rh'eans for moving said head and the closed closure member, a pair of fixed jaws formed .j aws for shifting said closure member into an integrally with said head and disposed 'atan open position relative to said container. o angleto each other for positioning adjacent two 7; In a machine for opening closure'members o adjoining sides of said container, a pair of'fiidV- having a portion crimped over a projecting ledge able'jjaws mounted in said head and disposed o'f a container, the combination of a curved rack "one adjacent each of said fixed jaws for engage grn'ovab'l e along a curved path of travel adjacent ment under the crimped portion of the closure the" closure member of a container to be opened, 7 member 'onsaid container, jaw actuating means ;a' head carried on said rack and movable by said"15' "operative against saidmovable jaws for pulling fr 'ckdntoia position adjacent the crimped porsaid crimped portion of the closure member loose If of saidjclosure'member; a fixed jaw formed F frorn' saidj container and for clamping it tightly :iritegrallytvlth said head, a movable jaw pivotagainst said fixed jaws, and means for moving v ally mounted in said head adjacent said fixed said head and its closed jaws with the crimped j;jawj"and' engageable under the'crimped portion-g portion of the closure member interposed beoff the closure member on said container, a jaw tween the jaws ior shifting the closure member actuating pin carried in said head and operable into'an open position relative to said container. ""gainstsaid movable jaw, stationary cam means 1 ;disposed adjacent the path of travel of said head V AUGUST E. ALMGREN.

and"enga Jgeab-le with said pin 'for closing said 5 c movable jaw for pullin said crimped portion of REFERENCES CITED thefcl'osure member loose from said container and 'f orclamping it tightly between said closed jaws,

meansior moving said rack and its attached head and theclosed jaws for shifting said 010- 30 sure member into-an open position relative to The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS said container, and means included insaid cam emitter Name Date means for releasing said actuating pin to open 1,247,507 Qochrane Nov. 20, 1917 said jaws for freeing the opened closure member 2,02 ,721 Buttress Nov. 12, 1935 from said jaws. '35 2,284,660 I Hothersall et a1 June 2,1942 

